Side underride guard
A side underride system configured to be coupled to a trailer is disclosed. The side underride system comprises a support system configured to be positioned below the trailer to provide side underride protection. The support system includes a cable system and a brace system. The cable system is configured to couple to the trailer. The brace system includes a plurality of cross-braces that each extend at least partially across a width of the trailer, are spaced apart at intervals along a length of the trailer, and are configured to capture the cable system.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/633,313 filed on Feb. 21, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to semi-trailers, such as van-type trailers, for example. In particular, the present invention relates to both an aerodynamic side skirt system for reducing drag on such a trailer as well as a side underride system for preventing or reducing the extent to which an automobile may ride under the trailer in the event of a side impact collision, for example.
BACKGROUNDTo reduce wind flow resistance and drag on a trailer, truck, semi-trailer, or other vehicle, side skirts that extend downwardly from a bottom of the trailer and/or chassis toward the roadway to partially enclose the floor assembly and undercarriage have been utilized.
Air flow passing under a ground vehicle imparts a drag force to the vehicle when it impinges on and flows around the vehicle undercarriage components attached to or a part of the underside of a vehicle. Side skirt systems are designed to prevent or control the flow of air from entering the undercarriage region from a side of the ground vehicle, such as a trailer of a tractor-trailer truck system, for example. Such reduction on the drag of the ground vehicle may operate to conserve fossil fuels as well as other sources of vehicle drive power for hybrid vehicles, battery-operated vehicles, and/or alternative fuel-based vehicles, for example.
Trailers typically have a higher elevation than passenger vehicles. The higher elevation presents a risk that a passenger vehicle may underride the trailer in an accident, potentially resulting in damage to the underriding vehicle and injury to occupants therein. Accordingly, a side protection device, or underride guard, may be provided for use with a trailer in order to reduce the risk of such passenger vehicles underriding the trailer. Side protection devices are intended to reduce the extent to which a “passenger vehicle” (as defined in 49 C.F.R. Part 571) can intrude under the side of a trailer, diminishing passenger compartment intrusion.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure may comprise one or more of the following features and combinations thereof.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a side underride system configured to be coupled to a trailer is provided. The side underride system comprises a first skirt wall, a second skirt wall, and a support system. The first skirt wall is configured to be positioned below the trailer near a first side wall of the trailer to reduce airflow under the trailer. The second skirt wall is configured to be positioned below the trailer near a second side wall of the trailer to reduce airflow under the trailer. The support system is configured to be positioned below the trailer and between the first skirt wall and the second skirt wall to provide side underride protection. The support system includes a plurality of cross-braces and a cable system. The plurality of cross braces extend at least partially across a width of the trailer and include a front cross-brace, a middle cross-brace, and a rear cross brace. The cable system includes a cable engaged with the plurality of cross-braces.
In some embodiments, the cable is routed through the plurality of cross-braces.
In some embodiments, the cable is coupled to the plurality of cross-braces.
In some embodiments, the support system includes a cable clamp configured to couple the cable to one of the plurality of cross-braces.
In some embodiments, each of the plurality of cross-braces includes a vertical post and a truss beam, and the cable clamp is configured to be coupled to one of the vertical post and the truss beam.
In some embodiments, the cable clamp is configured to be coupled to the plurality of cross-braces to route the cable one of beside and below the vertical post.
In some embodiments, the side underride system further includes a plurality of brackets configured to couple each of the plurality of cross-braces to a floor assembly of the trailer.
In some embodiments, each of the plurality of brackets are coupled to a bottom surface of a cross member of the floor assembly.
In some embodiments, each of the plurality of cross-braces includes a vertical post, and each vertical post is configured to be coupled to one of the plurality of brackets.
According to another embodiment, a side underride system configured to be coupled to a trailer is disclosed. The side underride system comprises a support system configured to be positioned below the trailer to provide side underride protection. The support system includes a cable system and a brace system. The cable system is configured to couple to the trailer. The brace system includes a plurality of cross-braces that each extend at least partially across a width of the trailer, are spaced apart at intervals along a length of the trailer, and are configured to capture the cable system.
In some embodiments, the cable system includes a cable, the plurality of cross-braces each include a cable clamp configured to engage with the cable, and each cable clamp includes a bracket coupled to a truss beam of the cross brace and a rope clip engaged with the bracket and configured to capture the cable.
In some embodiments, the side underride system also includes a skirt system configured to be positioned below the trailer to reduce airflow under the trailer and the support system is positioned between the skirt system.
According to a further embodiment, a side underride support subassembly is disclosed. The side underride support subassembly includes a cross brace and a first and second cable clamps. The cross-brace includes first and second vertical posts and first and second truss beams. The first and second vertical posts are opposite one another. The first and second truss beams are connected to the first and second vertical posts. The first and second truss beams diagonally cross one another. The first and second cable clamps are connected to the cross-brace.
In some embodiments, the first cable clamp is connected to the first vertical post and the second cable clamp is connected to the second vertical post.
In some embodiments, one or more of the first and second cable clamps extend outwardly from the cross-brace.
In some embodiments, one or more of the first and second cable clamps extend downwardly from the cross-brace.
In some embodiments, one or more of the first and second vertical posts defines a recess and one or more of the cable clamps is connected to the cross brace inboard of the recess.
In some embodiments, one or more of the first and second vertical posts has a closed face and an outwardly-facing side and the recess is defined in a lower portion of the closed face inboard of the outwardly-facing side.
In some embodiments, the first cable clamp is connected to the first truss beam; and the second cable clamp is connected to the second truss beam.
In some embodiments, each of the first and second cable clamps includes a bracket connected to the cross brace, and a rope clip connected to the first bracket and configured to compress a cable toward the bracket.
In some embodiments, the cable clamp is below the vertical support.
In some embodiments, one or more of the first and second vertical posts has an outwardly-facing side, and the cable clamp is inboard of the outwardly-facing side.
These and other features of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiments.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the invention. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from embodiments of the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not intended to be limited to embodiments shown, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description is to be read with reference to the figures, in which like elements in different figures have like reference numerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the invention. Skilled artisans will recognize the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of embodiments of the invention.
As used herein, unless otherwise specified or limited, “at least one of A, B, and C,” and similar other phrases, are meant to indicate A, or B, or C, or any combination of A, B, and/or C. As such, this phrase, and similar other phrases can include single or multiple instances of A, B, and/or C, and, in the case that any of A, B, and/or C indicates a category of elements, single or multiple instances of any of the elements of the categories A, B, and/or C.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to a number of illustrative embodiments shown in the attached drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. While the concepts of this disclosure are described in relation to a box-type trailer, it will be understood that they are equally applicable to many types of trailers, semi-trailers, and tanks generally, and more specifically to conventional flat-bed trailers, box or van type trailers, and/or pup trailers, as well as straight truck bodies, small personal and/or commercial trailers and the like. Furthermore, while the concepts of this disclosure may be described in relation to a box-type trailers, it will be understood that that they are equally applicable to other trailers generally and any type of over-the-road storage container. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a number of different applications and embodiments and is not specifically limited in its application to the particular embodiments depicted herein.
Generally, some embodiments of the disclosure provide an integrated system of an aerodynamic side skirt and side underride protection in one common system. The system incorporates both an aerodynamic side skirt for reducing air drag on a trailer and a side underride guard for preventing or reducing the extent to which a vehicle may ride under the trailer, as well as preventing or reducing the extent to which a trailer body may intrude into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. In some embodiments, there is no clear division between the skirt and the guard; in other embodiments, the side underride guard may be retrofit with existing skirt systems; in yet other embodiments, the side underride guard may be a standalone system without a skirt. Generally, the systems described herein can help generate a retardation or restriction force to decelerate an impacting vehicle and absorb the vehicle's kinetic energy to prevent or reduce passenger compartment intrusion (PCI).
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It should be noted that the trailer 10 of
Generally, the skirt system 12 may include a side skirt wall 30 provided in the form of one or more wall panels 32. For example, as shown in
In some embodiments, the mounting bracket assemblies or other coupling mechanisms may allow the skirt system 12 to tilt laterally both inwardly and outwardly relative to the floor assembly 26 of the trailer 10, for example, for the skirt wall 30 to potentially avoid damage when the trailer 10 traverses into or over a fixed, immovable obstacle. In other embodiments, however, the skirt system 12 may be sufficiently rigidly mounted to the floor assembly 26 such that the skirt system 12 is generally prevented from tilting under normal wind and road air forces. Additionally, as shown in
Illustratively, each wall panel 32 is made of a composite material. For example, the composite material may include a plastic core and metal outer skins coupled to the plastic core. Such a composite material provides a rigid, but lightweight and durable material. Illustratively, for example, each wall panel 32 may be made of a DURAPLATE® composite panel provided by Wabash National Corporation of Lafayette, Ind. DURAPLATE® composite panels are constructed of a high-density polyethylene plastic core bonded between two high-strength steel skins. It should be understood that other suitable composite materials may alternatively or additionally be used. For example, the wall panels 32 may be made of a sandwich composite including a honeycomb core and metal or plastic outer sheets, or the wall panels 32 may be made of a rigid or semi-rigid fiber-reinforced plastic composite. Further, the wall panels 32 may be of any number of suitable, non-composite materials such as metals, metal alloys, and/or plastics, for example.
In some embodiments, the above skirt system 12 may be structurally reinforced to provide additional side protection that may reduce the risk of an automobile underriding the trailer 10. For example, the skirt system 12 may be combined with a rigid and/or compressible support system 54 positioned underneath the trailer 10 and between the side skirt walls 30. As shown in
In some instances, the support system 54 may be retrofit into existing skirt systems 12 or installed with new skirt systems 12 or additional aerodynamic systems other than what is herein described. Alternatively, the support system 54 alone (that is, without a skirt system) may form the side underride system 50. In other words, the support system 54 may be an OEM side underride system design (that is, not for use as a retrofit with an existing skirt system) or, alternatively, may be used as a retrofit with existing skirt systems. For example, the support system 54 alone may potentially improve aerodynamic efficiency (i.e., by reducing air flow under the trailer 10) and may provide side underride protection. In particular, side underride systems may be contemplated within the scope of this disclosure to include side skirts or any other structures of any configuration and shape to provide a first outer surface positioned below the trailer 10 near the first side wall 14 and a second outer surface positioned below the trailer 10 near the second side wall 14 to reduce airflow under the trailer, where the surfaces permit any of the structures described herein to be positioned therebetween to potentially provide side underride protection.
Referring now to
Illustratively, the skirt system 52 is coupled to the floor assembly 26 of the trailer 10 to extend downwardly from the side wall 14 and the base rail 28 at least partially along a length of the trailer 10. In some embodiments, as shown in
As depicted in
Furthermore, the skirt wall 60 may include a single, substantially rigid or semi-rigid flat or curved wall panel 32, or multiple wall panels 32 coupled together. Generally, with respect to the integrated underride and skirt systems disclosed herein, the skirt wall 60 may be of any configuration and shape to form a uniform surface optimized to control air flow around the trailer sides to minimize the air drag on the trailer 10. In other words, the skirt wall 60, or any other structure, may be of any configuration and shape to provide a first outer surface positioned below the trailer 10 near the first side wall 14 and a second outer surface configured to be positioned below the trailer 10 near the second side wall 14 to reduce airflow under the trailer 10, where the surfaces permit any of the structures described herein to be positioned therebetween to provide side underride protection.
Illustratively, the skirt wall 60 may be made of any material to minimize weight, cost, and aid in equipment assembly, servicing, and maintenance. Example skirt wall materials, for use with any of the skirt walls described herein, may include, but are not limited to, DURAPLATE® composite panels, a continuous composite laminate, a molded composite sandwich panel (MCS) including a light-weight core and laminate webbing sandwiched between laminate outer skins, a metallic material sheet (such as an aluminum sheet), etc. Other suitable composite materials may alternatively or additionally be used, including, but not limited to, a sandwich composite including a honeycomb core and metal or plastic outer sheets, or a rigid or semi-rigid fiber-reinforced plastic composite. Further, the skirt wall 60 may be of any number of suitable, non-composite materials such as metals, metal alloys, and/or plastics, for example. Further, the skirt may include a textile or fabric such as a canvas or reinforced canvas that may be stretched and attached to the support system 54. However, any material may be used to form a substantially smooth continuous aerodynamic surface with suitable strength to be an integral part of the side underride system 50, as well as to form suitable connections to the trailer 10. Additionally, the skirt wall 60, or any skirt wall described herein, may be substantially rigid or substantially flexible.
With respect to the support system 54, generally, the brace system 56 may be substantially rigid and arranged perpendicular to the side wall 14, and the cable system 58 may be coupled to a lower portion of the brace system 56 to limit movement of and help transfer loads across the brace system 56. More specifically, as shown in
With further reference to the brace system 56, each of the first example cross-braces 62 may be a separate subassembly unit of the support system 54 and spaced apart along a length of the trailer 10, for example, between the landing gear 24 and the rear wheel assembly 22, as shown in
Illustratively, the cross-braces 62 may be spaced apart at specific intervals to increase the chances that a passenger vehicle colliding with the skirt wall 60 will engage at least one of the cross-braces 62 upon impact to prevent the vehicle from moving under the trailer 10. More specifically, to potentially increase the chances that a passenger vehicle colliding with a skirt wall 60 will engage at least one of the cross-braces 62 upon impact, the cross-braces 62 may be spaced apart along the length of the trailer 10 at intervals less than an average car width.
In one example, as shown in
Furthermore, each of the cross-braces 62a-e extends across a width of the trailer 10. In some applications, all the cross-braces 62a-e span an entire width between side walls 14 of the trailer 10. In other applications, some or all of the cross-braces 62a-e span less than the entire width between side walls 14, and/or each of the cross-braces 62a-e spans the same or different widths. For example, in applications where each skirt wall 60 is coupled directly below and parallel to a respective side wall 14, the cross-braces 62a-e may each span the entire width between side walls 14 (e.g., about eight feet in one application). In applications where the skirt walls 60 form an angled or curved profile from the front of the trailer 10 to the rear of the trailer 10, as shown in
Illustratively, each first example cross-brace 62 may include one or more truss members or beams with various cross-sections that offer suitable column compression and buckling strength. As shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
The first and second truss beams 72a, b may be coupled to the lower and upper portions of the first and second vertical posts 70a, b, for example, via a welded coupling. However, other coupling mechanisms may be contemplated within the scope of this disclosure, such as bolts or fasteners. Furthermore, the first and second truss beams 72a, b may be loaded in compression, then welded together at an intersection point 90 to provide further structural integrity to the cross-brace 62. In other embodiments, however, the first and second truss beams 72a, b may be pinned, bolted, bonded, hinged, or otherwise coupled together at the intersection point 90.
Other configurations of truss beams in addition to those illustrated and described herein may be contemplated within the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, the first example cross-braces 62 described herein may include material that is substantially rigid, but lightweight. For example, the first example cross-braces 62 may include any suitable material such as, but not limited to, metallic extrusions (such as extruded aluminum), roll formed high-strength aluminum alloy or high-strength steel, fiber reinforced polymeric matrix pultrusions, galvanized steel sheet stampings, combinations thereof, or any other suitable material or materials. Generally, such a suitable material may include suitable strength and light-weight features, and be conducive to form strong connections via welding, riveting, bolting, bonding or other methods. For example, the first example cross-braces 62 may also or alternatively include compression molded composite laminates and/or foam cores structures, such as compression-molded, fiberglass-reinforced plastic.
To couple the cross-braces 62 along a width of the trailer 10, each cross-brace 62 may be coupled directly to a respective cross member 40 of the floor assembly 26. For example, in some embodiments, a cross-brace 62 may be coupled to a cross member 40 using first and second brackets 64a, b, as shown in
The welded connection between the brackets 64 and the cross member 40 may help distribute vertical and horizontal loads from the cross-braces 62 to the floor assembly 26. In some embodiments, each bracket 64 may be welded to a single surface of a respective cross member 40. More specifically, as shown in
In some embodiments, welding can be performed as a sub-assembly process during manufacturing of the floor assembly 26. More specifically, a respective cross member 40 may be flipped over to weld the bracket 64 to the underside 160 of the lower flange 162, and then the cross member 40 may be flipped back and assembled into the floor assembly 26. Once the floor assembly 26 is assembled, vertical legs 70 can be coupled to the brackets 64, as further described below. Accordingly, the brace system 56 may be manufactured when the floor assembly 26 is being manufactured (e.g., as part of an OEM process). Alternatively, in some embodiments, the brace system 56 may be retrofitted onto an existing floor assembly 26. In either manner, welding the brackets 64 to the cross members 40 (and then coupling the vertical legs to the brackets 64) may be an easier process than directly welding or coupling the first and second vertical posts 70a, b to the cross members 40. However, direct couplings between the first and second vertical posts 70a, b and the cross members 40 may also be contemplated in some embodiments.
As shown in
Illustratively, the first and second vertical posts 70a, b can be respectively coupled to the first and second brackets 64a, b by engaging the closed face 74 with the open face 168. For example, the first and second brackets 64a, b and the first and second vertical posts 70a, b can each define mating apertures that align when the first and second vertical posts 70a, b are respectively received by the first and second brackets 64a, b. Illustratively, the first and second brackets 64a, b and the first and second vertical posts 70a, b can be respectively coupled together via bolts 66 routed through the mating apertures and nuts 68 securing the bolts 66 in place. This single sheer connection (i.e., the single vertical-surface contact point) between the first and second brackets 64a, b and the first and second vertical posts 70a, b makes aligning the mating apertures easier (e.g., as compared to couplings with multiple sheer connections) and also permits use of the bolt 66 to force components with variation into a correct position, thus permitting larger tolerances for aligning mating apertures and simplifying installation.
In some embodiments, each cross-brace 62 may be coupled to a respective cross member 40 through other coupling methods, such as welding, bolting, fasteners, and/or other suitable couplings. Alternatively, in some embodiments, one or more cross members 40 may be replaced with an integrated member that serves as both a cross member and a cross-brace. Furthermore, while the floor assemblies 26 are described and illustrated herein as including cross members 40, it is within the scope of this disclosure to couple the cross-braces 62 to floor assemblies 26 of trailers without cross members 40. In other words, while the cross-braces 62 are described and illustrated herein as being coupled to or integral with cross members 40, it is within the scope of this disclosure to couple the cross-braces 62 to any part of the floor assembly 26 using, for example, fasteners, adhesives, or other suitable coupling methods.
Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more cross-braces 62 may be further coupled to the skirt walls 60. For example, the cross-braces 62 and the skirt walls 60 may be coupled together via self-tapping bolts, rivets, or another suitable connector (not shown). The skirt walls 60 may thus be coupled to the support system 54 (such as the vertical posts 70), and/or to the floor assembly 26, and/or may be spaced apart from the support system 54 in some embodiments.
Accordingly, the cross-braces 62, via the first and second truss beams 72a, b, may provide sufficient strength and support between the skirt walls 60 to help reduce the chances of vehicle underride during a side impact collision. Furthermore, due to the interlocking first and second truss beams 72a, b, the cross-braces 62 may operate to absorb some of the force and energy of any impact thereto to potentially decrease any forces on the passengers within an automobile that impacts the trailer 10. The cross-braces 62 may also compress, deflect, or collapse slightly under impact (i.e., under lateral forces) to further absorb such forces.
Referring now to the cable system 58, as best seen in
According to the first example, in some embodiments, as shown in
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Like in the first example cross-brace of
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It should be understood that as the nuts 188 are tightened, the U-bolt 186 draws the cable 112 toward the surface 192 until the cable 112 contacts the saddle 190 and/or the surface 192. Thus, in some embodiments, the cable 112 may be relatively freely slidably engaged with the rope clip 184. Once the cable 112 is in contact with the saddle 190 and/or the surface 192, further tightening of the nuts 188 increasingly compresses the cable 112 between the U-bolt 186 and the surface 192. Thus, in some embodiments, the cable 112 may be restrictively slidably engaged with the rope clip 184. In further embodiments, the nuts 188 may be tightened until the cable 112 is fixed relative to the rope 184. In other words, the rope clip 184 is adjustable to frictionally damp lateral sliding movement of the cable 112 relative to the rope clip 184. Thus, the rope clip 184 adjustably impedes sliding movement of the cable 112 relative to the structures to which the rope clip 184 is directly and indirectly attached (e.g., the cross brace 262, the bracket 182, etc.).
An assembled cable clamp 180 (that is, the U-bolt 186, the saddle 190, the cable 112, and the bracket 182, assembled together via the nuts 188) may be coupled to the cross-brace 262 via the bracket 182. More specifically, the bracket 182 may be welded or otherwise coupled to one or more of the first vertical post 270a, the second vertical post, the first truss beam 272a, and/or the second truss beam 272b. Illustratively, the bracket 182 may be substantially C-shaped, as shown in
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Like in the first and second example cross-braces 62, 262 of
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Like in the first, second, and third example cross-braces 62, 262, 362 of
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An assembled cable clamp 2180 (that is, the U-bolt 186, the saddle 190, the cable 112, and the bracket 2182, assembled together via the nuts 188) may be coupled to the cross-brace 462 via the bracket 2182. More specifically, the bracket 2182 may be welded or otherwise coupled to the respective wings 479 of the first vertical post 470a and the second vertical post. Illustratively, the bracket 2182 may be substantially L-shaped, as shown in
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The first truss beam and the second truss beam 572b are coupled to the first vertical post 570a and the second vertical post in the same manner as the first and second truss beams 72a, b of
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Like in the first, second, third, and fourth example cross-braces 62, 262, 362, 462 of
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An assembled cable clamp 3180 (that is, the U-bolt 186, the saddle 190, the cable 112, and the bracket 3182, assembled together via the nuts 188) may be coupled to the cross-brace 562 via the bracket 3182. More specifically, inner surfaces 3194a, b of the first and second side plates 3182a, b and an upper edge 3196 of the bridge 3182c may be welded or otherwise coupled to the first truss beam and the second truss beam 572b. Thus, the first and second side plates 3182a, b and the bridge 3182c are partially disposed in the recess 510 and extend downwardly from the second truss beam 572b and the first vertical post 570a. The C-shaped orientation, inner surfaces 3194a, b, and upper edge 3196 may provide sufficient surface area for a strong weld connection while still permitting access to the nuts 188 when the bracket 3182 is coupled to the cross-brace 562.
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In some embodiments, the cable 112 may include one or more steel cables and may be approximately ½ inch to ¾ inch in diameter. In one specific embodiment, the cable 112 may be approximately ⅝ inch in diameter. Of course, it is within the scope of this disclosure to include any number of cables of any diameter made from other suitable materials including composite rope, composite fibers, and other suitable high strength, low stretch materials, and having other suitable diameters. Further, the cable 112 may be covered in ballistic nylon or canvas. Any of the cable concepts, or any other concepts, disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/487,743, filed on Apr. 20, 2017, and entitled Side Underride Guard, may also be utilized with the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, any of the concepts disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/487,775, filed on Apr. 20, 2017, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/557,977, filed on Sep. 13, 2017, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,162,384 may be utilized with the embodiments described herein. The disclosure of such applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
As described above, a trailer 10 may be provided with a side underride system 50 including a skirt system 52 with skirt walls 60 and a support system 54 with any number of cross-braces 62 and a cable system 58 between the skirt walls 60. Any one of the support systems 54 described above may be retrofit with existing skirt systems, may be added with new skirt systems, or may completely replace existing skirt systems. The above-described side underride system 50 may provide dual functions of potentially improving aerodynamic efficiency (i.e., via the skirt system) and providing side underride protection (i.e., via the skirt system and the support system) without presenting operational limitations, such as difficult or costly installation, limiting access to the underside of the floor assembly 26, or adding considerable weight to the trailer 10. Alternatively, the above-described side underride system 50 may solely provide side underride protection (i.e., via the support system, without a skirt system) without presenting such operational limitations. Such side underride protection may reduce the risk of passenger vehicle underride in the event of a side impact collision, and may reduce the risk of pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists from falling or sliding under the trailer 10, for example, between the landing gear 24 and the rear wheel assembly 22.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. For example, any of the features or functions of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be incorporated into any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A side underride system configured to be coupled to a trailer, comprising:
- a support system configured to be positioned below the trailer to provide side underride protection, the support system including: a cable system configured to couple to the trailer; and a brace system including a plurality of cross-braces that each extend at least partially across a width of the trailer, are spaced apart at intervals along a length of the trailer, and are configured to capture the cable system, wherein the cable system is configured to couple to the trailer at a first anchor point forward of a forward-most cross-brace of the plurality of cross-braces and couple to the trailer at a second anchor point rearward of a rearward-most cross-brace of the plurality of cross-braces.
2. The side underride system of claim 1, wherein:
- the cable system includes a cable,
- the plurality of cross-braces each include a cable clamp configured to engage with the cable, and
- each cable clamp includes a bracket coupled to a truss beam of the respective cross-brace of the plurality of cross-braces and a rope clip engaged with the bracket and configured to capture the cable.
3. The side underride system of claim 1, further comprising a skirt system configured to be positioned below the trailer to reduce airflow under the trailer, wherein the support system is positioned between the skirt system.
4. A side underride support subassembly for a side underride system with a cable system configured to be coupled to a trailer, the side underride support subassembly comprising:
- a cross-brace comprising: first vertical and second vertical posts opposite one another, a first truss beam coupled to an upper portion of the first vertical post and a lower portion of the second vertical post, and a second truss beam coupled to an upper portion of the second vertical post and a lower portion of the first vertical post, the first and second truss beams diagonally crossing one another; and
- first and second cable clamps connected to the cross-brace and configured to support the cable system.
5. The side underride support subassembly of claim 4, wherein:
- the first cable clamp is connected to the first vertical post, and
- the second cable clamp is connected to the second vertical post.
6. The side underride support subassembly of claim 4, wherein one or more of the first and second cable clamps extend outwardly from the cross-brace.
7. The side underride support subassembly of claim 4, wherein one or more of the first and second cable clamps extend downwardly from the cross-brace.
8. The side underride support subassembly of claim 4, wherein:
- one or more of the first and second vertical posts defines a recess, and
- one or more of the cable clamps is connected to the cross brace inboard of the recess.
9. The side underride support subassembly of claim 8, wherein:
- the one or more of the first and second vertical posts has a closed face and an outwardly-facing side, and
- the recess is defined in a lower portion of the closed face inboard of the outwardly-facing side.
10. The side underride support subassembly of claim 4, wherein:
- the first cable clamp is connected to the first truss beam, and
- the second cable clamp is connected to the second truss beam.
11. The side underride support subassembly of claim 4, wherein:
- each of the first and second cable clamps includes: a bracket connected to the cross brace, and a rope clip connected to the bracket and configured to compress a cable toward the bracket.
12. The side underride support subassembly of claim 4, wherein the cable clamp is below the vertical support.
13. The side underride support subassembly of claim 4, wherein:
- the one or more of the first and second vertical posts has an outwardly-facing side,
- the cable clamp is inboard of the outwardly-facing side.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 20, 2019
Date of Patent: Mar 9, 2021
Patent Publication Number: 20190256026
Assignee: Wabash National, L.P. (Lafayette, IN)
Inventors: David P. Kunkel (Lebanon, IN), Rodney P. Ehrlich (Monticello, IN)
Primary Examiner: Jason S Daniels
Application Number: 16/280,888
International Classification: B60R 19/56 (20060101); B62D 35/00 (20060101); B62D 63/08 (20060101);